Environment Protection Activities

Clarion is working to reduce the environmental impact of its business activities and fulfill its responsibility as a member of society. These activities range widely from waste reduction, preservation of ecological system, prevention of global warming and other environment protection.

Preservation of ecological system

■ “Clarion Global Eco Photo Contest 2013”

As an event during eco-month in June, we held “Clarion Global Eco Photo Contest 2013.” There were entries of 158 pcs. of pictures with motif of environment in everyday life from 8 countries. All these pictures were posted on our web site and excellent pictures were commended with prizes. The contestant pictures were processed into a movie and shown at company cafeteria during lunch break, and we contributed to increasing eco awareness of the employees through this project..

The Picture Awarded with Environment Committee Chairman Award

Commemorating Award for Excellent Pictures, a pen-holder made of sustainable wood.

As a part of environmental joint activities of Eco-Factory Subcommittee, we took part in Clean-up Actions of Funatsuhama Beach on Saturday, June 29, 2013, and Collection Actions of Drifted Waterweeds on Tenjin Beach on Saturday, October 12 both on Inawashiro Lake in Fukushima to collect and remove waterweeds and wastes which cause deterioration of water quality. Clarion actively promotes activities for improvement of water quality and preservation of ecological systems of Inawashiro Lake.

CEF members’ protection activities of honeybees started last year have been nicely expanding. In 2013, 43 members built 15 beehives and harvested 70 kg of honey. They will continue the activities in order to make importance of the bees as well as preservation of environment understood better.
Furthermore, the members visited a nearby elementary school and held “Visiting Honeybee Class.” This could teach the children importance of protection of bees as a part of preservation of biological systems, and triggered their interest in the issue.

Preventing Global Warming

Clarion’s measures to prevent global warming include cutting down the use of electricity and fuel in order to lower CO2 emissions. Moreover, we are actively working on efficient and environmentconscious transportation. We are also striving to contribute to the prevention of global warming by making efforts to reduce CO2 emissions through products.

■ Operation Green Curtain

Clarion promoted “Operation Green Curtain”again in the fiscal year 2013. Environment Group of CSR Promotion Office distributed seeds of Goya (kind of bitter melon) and morning glories to employees who wanted to grow them at home in an effort to save electricity with their effects of “green curtains”. Further, in order to raise awareness of “electricity saving”, Clarion’s liquid crystal thermometers were widely used.

● Energy Consumption (in terms of crude oil)

■ Energy Consumption Reduction Activities

The Hitachi Group is striving to achieve energy consumption reduction targets of 15% in terms of Basic Unit for Energy in fiscal 2015 (against fiscal 2005 level). The total energy consumed by Clarion Group in fiscal 2013 in terms of crude oil was 3,775 kℓ. We will further promote the reduction through such activities as reviewing of production processes, introduction of energy saving device and other steady improvement of work environment.

■ CMS Fukushima Protocol Upper Grade Section Award

Fukushima Protocol Undertakings are initiatives by enterprises in Fukushima Prefecture. They, bound by exchanged agreements with the Governor of Fukushima, address measures for better energy efficiency aiming at reduction of CO2 and other greenhouse gases. Clarion has participated in these undertakings since 2009. In 2012, 495 schools and 1535 business entities participated. The Upper Grade Section for larger business entities newly started (11 entities) and Clarion was honored with a first award in this section. Suppressed use of heatpump multiple air conditioners which achieved less consumption of kerosene was evaluated highly in this award.

■ Use of Green Electricity at Tech Show

Clarion made use of “Tradable Green Certificate” system and covered all lighting and air conditioning electricity at the Tech Show held in July 2013 with green electricity from a wind power station.
With such use, Clarion promotes harmony of business activities and environment, as well as increasing of awareness for environment.

■ Active Use of CO2 Credit (Emission Trading)

Clarion started new approach for more consideration to the environment through deployment of international air transport services with CO2 credit. As we use international air transport services, we procure CO2 credit, following the Kyoto Mechanism, and transfer it to redemption account of the Japanese government.
The procurement of CO2 credit, at the same time, contributes to social infrastructure of the State of Karnataka, India, where the project is located from which we procure the credit.

∗ ECO2AWB of Nippon Express is used for procurement of CO2 credit and for transfer to redemption account of the Japanese Government

Effective Use of Resources

Clarion endeavors to reduce the total amount of waste generated by its business activities and further promote recycling activities. Clarion defines “zero waste output” as “reducing the amount of final disposal at the sites to be less than 0.5%, by recycling more than 99.5%” and we are working to achieve this goal. At the same time, we promote material recycling through improvement of production processes and disassembling of waste.
Through efforts of waste separation patrol and promotion of education/training, we recycled 99.98% of output in fiscal 2013. We shall address this issue of further reduction of environmental impact through promotion of higher level recycling and technology for reinput of waste in product resource.

● Amount of Disposal • Amount of Recycling

Chemical Substance Management Activities

Clarion conducts thorough chemical substance management through ongoing awareness education and training activities. Moreover, we strive to reduce the output of chemical substances used in production by switching these to ones with lower environmental impact. Currently we work primarily to reduce solder, waste oil and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) of which we have higher usage, eventually, waste output.

■ Complying with the Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTR) Law

Clarion runs a system that tracks the amounts of chemical substances used and their waste output, even if they are used only in smaller amounts below the levels subject to report under the PRTR. In fiscal 2013, although as a whole Clarion domestic operations handled 777kg of chemical substances, the amount itself was below that required to be reported under the PRTR Law. We are also striving to reduce the amount of usage and waste output of chemical substances that are not subject to the PRTR Law.